This article was created when a client of Dr Gaston volunteered
to be interviewed by Bob, co-editor of the Changing Times magazine
regarding their experiences of Steroid use, over a period of
several years and the consequential effects it has had on both
his physical and mental well being.
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S
"I was always skinny and scrawny when I left school
and I began gym training to improve the way I looked, this developed
into something quite obsessional and gym, training regimes really
took over my life. One day whilst at the gym I began chatting
to an older guy, I had noticed his muscular form was developing
very quickly, whilst my gains were almost inconspicuous in comparison.
He told me that he was using steroids, and it was some time
later I approached him and asked him to get me some. I wanted
the same physique as him".
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Bob
"Did you carry out any research into steroids before
using them, were you aware of the problems that were to lie
ahead of you"?
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S
"No and I didn't really care, I just wanted to enhance
my physique to the levels that he had achieved and Steroids,
although illegal, are commonly and easily available in most
Gyms. I obtained my syringes from my local needle exchange as
would any other injecting drug user. You just seem to get into
the circle of steroid users and it takes over your whole life.
Apart from obtaining the steroids I was spending enormous amounts
of time and money in preparing meals, I was eating up to ten
high protein meals a day. I also had all the protein drinks
and supplements such as Creatine, this you can buy from most
health shops.
The first occasion I used Steroids it was in tablet form
and I took them orally. My body reacted badly to it and I developed
a lump under my eye half the size of my face. Steroid use began
in a small way and I started by spending about ’20
every two weeks, however that quickly grew to ’60-’70
per week.. |
Bob "Why did you continue to use steroids,
having experienced the physical side effects they were having
on you"?
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S
"Quite simply I didn't care, the way I looked was
more important. I quickly progressed to injecting other types
of steroids such as Sustanan, Deconoate and Cypionate. These
are supplied in small phials and it has the appearance of cooking
oil. I was injecting daily as much as five times the recommended
dosage.
There are commonly used terms used by Steroid users, such as
'Cycling', this involves alternating use with non-use,
say 6-8 weeks use followed by
2-3 weeks non-use. Bodybuilders and other athletes cycle to
reduce the risk of side effects as well as pass drug tests,
though a friend of mine who body builds competitively tells
me he has never been tested.
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Also 'Stacking', body builders, don't just stick to
one ster-oid, they find that combining or stacking two or
more at the same time magnifies and accelerates the results.
One drug boosts the effects of the other
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drug,
the problem is that risks associated with them also increase.
This was the method I used, not always intentionally, as I just
used what was available, the stronger the better, frequently
I would find that the par-ticular Steroid I had been using for
a few weeks was suddenly no longer obtainable by my supplier
so I used whatever else was available.'Spot jabbing' another
commonly practised method I used. This is injecting steroids
directly into whatever muscle tissue you were trying to enhance,
I injected my shoul-ders and buttocks.
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My
body is now a mass of scar tissue and lumps caused by steroid
use. Another common side effect I suffered is in-growing hair
follicles particularly on the face, also all over my body. I
also have horrendous acne over my body particularly my back,
so much so I was embarrassed to take my top off. I suffered
with body dysmorphic disorder, Erectile dysfunction and I am
prematurely bald.
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I continued
this practice for about 6 years, then I suffered a sudden trauma
in my life when my best friend died. This had a massive impact
on my life and I stopped training and stopped Steroid use. I
was admitted into hospital and seen by the crisis team. I was
told that my body was shutting down, my immune system was breaking
down and I suffered numerous blood disorders as I was susceptible
to infections which is one of many side effects attributed to
continued steroid use.
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I
have yet to mention the mood swings, I suffered depression and
still do to this day, though much improved. I have been imprisoned
several times for vio-lent criminal offences. Also I became
aware that I could easily be the perpetrator of domestic violence.
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I still
receive support and treatment from the mental health services
and I am currently under the care of Dr Gaston who invited me
to be interviewed for this article. I have returned to the Gym
again but I no longer use steroids but use the gym in a positive
way to release my aggression.
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| I hope
by sharing my experiences it might make others aware of the
risks involved in Steroid use". |
S
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